I named my car “Gerard.”
Yes, after lead singer of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way.
He and I would take night drives when I felt bored, I’d blast music and take turn after turn, sometimes stumbling across a new spot I would plan to return to during the day. Those drives calmed me, they were a moment of solitude to think or sing my favorite songs as loud as I wished.
Having a car becomes a hassle for a college student, especially an out-of-state student. Sending it, parking it, driving it… I didn’t want to deal with that when I lived on campus–during my freshman year–and now, as a sophomore living off-campus. That still leaves me with the issue of transportation. The airport isn’t ten minutes from my apartment and I don’t want to lock myself to only the places I can walk to.
So, I turned to Seattle public transit.
With my Husky Card, I was able to hop on and off of the light rail as well as multiple lines of the Seattle bus system. Somedays, I would have a destination in mind, other times, I put a book in my bag and would read a few chapters before hopping off, choosing to explore an area I had never been to
However, I enjoy public transportation for more reasons than just convenience. As a person who wants to be a conscious consumer–especially when it comes to climate change–public transportation is the way to go. Buses and trains produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than cars, especially in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. But, I think most people are aware of those environmental benefits. So what else is there?
The social benefits of public transportation cannot be overstated. Public transportation boosts the economy, allowing for more people to be employed since they can now reach their potential job site. Household expenses drop, considering you don’t need to spend money on a car. Even the inconvenience of having to walk to a bus or train station boosts activity and fosters a healthier lifestyle.
I’m sure we’re all tired of the “just one more lane” approach to road planning–it clearly hasn’t worked, highways are still congested when you need to get somewhere the most–and public transportation is one of the ways to mitigate that headache, too!
For many, public transit has gone from a nuisance of being trapped behind a bus that you can’t seem to get away from, to a necessity. To me, it’s become something that I love. I’m so grateful that it has gotten me out of my comfort zone and taken me to places I would have never seen.
Now, all we have to do is wait for the United States High Speed Rail System!
